ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association) Deputy Executive Director Brian Willis was named Law Officer 2011 Trainer of the Year. He received a sustained standing ovation from the audience at today’s ILEETA conference.
“Go back and thank the trainers who’ve helped you along in your way,” he told the audience as he held the award. “This is an honor.”
Chuck Remsberg, founder of Calibre Press said, “An outstanding choice for Trainer of the Year. Well deserved!”
“There were a lot of nominees this year,” said Law Officer Editor-in-Chief Dale Stockton, “but this name just rose to the top. Everyone I’ve talked to has told me about how much Brian makes things happen behind the scenes. He’s such a humble guy, and that’s just the type of person this award was meant to recognize.”
Willis is a tireless trainer. In addition to serving as the deputy executive director of ILEETA, he runs Warrior Spirit Books (www.warriorspiritbooks.com) and has written several books on law enforcement, including W.I.N.: Critical Issues in Training and Leading Warriors, W.I.N. 2: Insights Into Training and Leading Warriors, and If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street, which is serialized on LawOfficer.com and the proceeds of which went to the ILEETA scholarship. His latest book is If I Knew Then, Part 2, which will also run on LawOfficer.com.
Willis has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, including 20 as a trainer, serving mostly with the Calgary Police Service. He is the first non-American to win this coveted award. Past winners include Ed Nowicki, Jeff Chudwin, Travis Yates and Dave Spaulding, all of whom are in attendance at this year’s ILEETA conference
Willis runs an annual police training conference in Calgary—one of the best attended in Alberta—and writes and speaks widely on law enforcement throughout North America (including this fantastic webcast).
In addition to all of this, Willis is an affable, approachable guy. His nominator wrote: “When students and trainers need someone to talk to Brian is always there to listen and officer support. He is known for his patience, kindness and willingness to listen and can quickly provide sound guidance.”
He added: “Brian does not let his ego get in the way of his work.”
After the presentation of the award, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer SSGT Jim Nieman approach the winner and said, “Brian is the best trainer I know. He has taught me so much and truly served as a mentor to me and many others.”
Willis will co-present with Stockton, Chudwin and Yates at a Below 100 train-the-trainer session on Thursday. His topic is, “Life’s most important question: What’s important now?”
